The holiday season is here, and homes everywhere are filling up with friends and family. But things like clogged drains, burned out light bulbs, leaking toilets, unwelcome guests like mice, and slick sidewalks are a fact of life – and it can happen at the worst times. Westlake Ace Hardware suggests these simple tips and products to keep on hand to make household repairs quick and simple – and let you get back to enjoying the holidays!

1. Give your walk a clean sweep – Sweep, shovel, or use a leaf blower on walkways before guests arrive so they won’t accidentally slip or pick up debris on their shoes to track through your home. If the walks are icy, apply ice melt.
2. Light it up – Buy a supply of energy-efficient LED light bulbs that shed a softer light and show true whites inside a home. Also, consider adding a nightlight to bathrooms or dark hallways so guests can find their way in an unfamiliar space at night.
3. Take a shower in the guest bathroom – Test shower heads you never use to make sure the water pressure is up to your standards. If not, consider soaking the shower head in CLR or a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and water to remove mineral deposits. If that doesn’t help, it’s a quick fix to replace the showerhead with a new one.
4. Banish bathroom blunders – The time for a bathroom emergency is NOT while you have a house full of guests. Check your house’s bathroom sinks, faucets, and toilets in advance. Tighten leaky faucets, clear drains of clogs, and fix the toilet valve or flapper if it’s continually running or not filling properly. If you don’t already have a plunger and sewer snake on hand, those can be invaluable tools. Insta-Flow is a great way to quickly unclog sinks.
5. Freshen the air – Replace the furnace filter so the air inside your home doesn’t smell dusty and stale. If the air inside already feels dry, consider purchasing a humidifier to add moisture to the air for everyone’s comfort.
6. A touch of fresh paint – Starting a major renovation is not advised during the holidays, but it can be a good time to paint over chips and nicks on doors, door frames, cabinets, and baseboards. Just be sure to leave several days for the paint to dry before guests arrive.
7. Uninvite unwanted furry guests – Unwanted guests like mice and rats may try to make their way into your home to escape winter’s cold and enjoy the warm and dry environment. 
   • If your fireplace wood is stacked right next to the house, consider moving it away from the foundation and outer walls. 
   • Minimize clutter in the garage so pests can’t find places to nest. Keep tight-fitting lids on trash cans.
   • Rinse recycling items before tossing in the bin to avoid tempting rodents with food remnants. If you’re storing dog or cat food in the garage, make sure containers are sealed tight. And keep the garage door closed to prevent rodents from walking right in. 
   • An adult mouse can squeeze through a dime-sized hole, so seal off all possible access points throughout the house with steel wool. 
   • Bait stations are a good option for basements, garages, attics, and other tight spaces. Rodents eat the product then wander off to meet their end. Bait stations can be disposable or refillable. While bait is highly effective, it should not be used in high-traffic areas or around pets. 
   • If you’d prefer a non-toxic, poison-free option, the Victor PestChaser Plug-In Electronic Rodent Repeller drives away rodents by emitting a highly irritating noise that only rodents can hear.  

     Grain Valley senior Grace Slaughter is one of the toughest, if not the toughest high girls basketball players to defend.
     That was evident in the Eagles’ Suburban White Conference matchup Monday at Fort Osage High School.
     At 6-foot-2 she was already a great low post scorer and she could take any defender off the dribble and score while driving to the cup. She also always has been a solid 3-point shooter but if she keeps shooting from behind the arc like she did against the Indians, she will be even more un-guardable than she already is.
     Against Fort Osage, the senior made 11 of 20 shots (55 percent) from the floor and sank 9 of 12 attempts from 3-point range (75 percent) while scoring a game-high 38 points in a 66-38 rout of Fort Osage.
     During the same, Slaughter displayed superior off-ball movement, often faking like she was going to post up or make a cut to the basket, then popping out behind the arc for an open three.
     “Coach (Randy) Draper helps by drawing plays that help us move the ball,” Slaughter said. “I look for the seal or look to get open for a three. This year, I am really looking to seek good opportunities. If that means a three, that’s good.”
     Slaughter said her 3-point shot was something that she had been working on after she recovered from the ACL injury she suffered last February in a regular season game against Blue Springs.
     “Having nine months off with my injury, I was able to spend time getting the (basketball shooting machine) out and work on getting stronger and pulling my range out three wise,” Slaughter said. “I think that is contributing to how I am scoring this year.”
     Hitting that shot on a consistent basis will make her even tougher to guard as she already dominates the paint almost every night. On Monday, it didn’t matter if it was a catch and shoot, a pull up or step-back 3-pointer, Slaughter was draining most shots she took from deep.
     Draper credited Slaughter’s tireless work ethic for her ability to consistently hit outside shots.
     “She can get you in a lot of ways,” Draper said. “You have to guard the whole floor against her. We all know how hard she works. It's great to see it get rewarded. It’s fun to see how good she is. She sets the bar high for herself. She keeps extending her range and keeps getting better.”
     In the first period, the senior hit five 3-pointers and scored 21 points to help the Eagles (4-0) 26-11 lead. In the second period, she made another three and was 6-for-6 from the free throw line as Grain Valley went into halftime up 39-14.
     Meanwhile the defense was making things difficult for the Indians as the Grain Valley defense held them to just 6-for-24 shooting from the floor (25 percent). Slaughter knocked down two more 3-pointers in the third period and rested the entire fourth period.
     Juniors Finley LaForge and McKenah Sears also each hit one 3-point for the Eagles as they totaled 11 as a team. Draper said he would like to see improvement in that area from the others aside from Slaughter.
     “We need to shoot it better than we are shooting right now,” Draper said. “Grace is shooting a good percentage. As a team it’s not good enough, but it will be. We are just working on shooting good threes.”
     “We have other ways to score aside from Grace and we just have to maximize that.”
     Junior Meghan Knust was the next highest scorer for Grain Valley with six points.

    Jackson County will once again offer extended weekend hours for tax collection at the historic courthouse in Independence on two Saturdays in December.
     The Historic Truman Courthouse, located at 112 W. Lexington in Independence, will be open from 8 a.m. – Noon on December 10 and December 17. Taxpayers can visit the Truman Courthouse during those times to make in-person tax payments, obtain a copy of their bill, make changes to their account, or ask questions of the Assessment and Collection Departments. These functions can also be completed online.
     “This is the busiest time of year for the Collection Department and they continue to go the extra mile to help taxpayers take care of business as quickly and as safely as possible,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “Staff work very hard to provide good customer service which is a core value of Jackson County. They are essential to the successful operation of this County, and I hope taxpayers appreciate their service as much as I do.”
     Taxpayers can also make quick and easy payments through the mobile and web-based application called myJacksonCounty. The program allows taxpayers to make a secure payment with a credit card, debit card or e-check with or without setting up an account. The free app, myJacksonCounty, is available for download on Apple and Android devices via the iTunes App Store or Google Play App Store. It can also be found online at https://payments.jacksongov.org.
     “Paying online is strongly encouraged to limit crowd sizes, but we know we have taxpayers who prefer to conduct business in person,” Department of Collection Director Whitney Miller said. “As a result, it is important for us to continue to provide extended weekend hours for taxpayers to make payments. Many taxpayers have taken advantage of this opportunity over the years, and we expect that to be the case again.”
     The Department of Collection mailed tax bills during the month of November. Individuals who don’t receive a bill are still responsible for paying their taxes, which are due by the end of the year. Those who haven’t received a bill by December 10 should check their account online or call the Department of Collection at (816) 881-3232 to find out the amount due.
 
Other contactless payment options:
     Exterior drop boxes for property tax payments are located at the west door of the Jackson County Courthouse in Kansas City (415 E. 12th St.) and at the south door of the Historic Truman Courthouse in Independence (112 W. Lexington).
     Taxpayers can also mail their payment to the address on their bill. Payments must be received or USPS postmarked by December 31 to avoid penalty.
 
Making account changes:
    Taxpayers needing to make changes to their accounts prior to paying their taxes are strongly encouraged to do so via email or phone. Simply contact the County at the email addresses below.
 
Questions or changes related to:

• Individual Personal Property Accounts (vehicles): IPP@jacksongov.org or call 816-881-1330
• Business Personal Property Accounts (property owned by businesses): Email BPAsmt@jacksongov.org or call 816-881-4672
• Real Property Accounts (residential or commercial): asmtcustomerservice@jacksongov.org or call 816-881-3530
• Interest, penalties, fees: collections@jacksongov.org or call 816-881-3232
• Pending value appeals with the BOE: boardofequalization@jacksongov.org or call 816-881-3309

 
As a reminder, all County locations and the online payment vendor’s offices will be closed on December 26.

      The Board of Aldermen met briefly Monday, November 28th for a regularly scheduled meeting. 
     A public hearing scheduled to consider a voluntary annexation of land at 4112 and 4108 S Buckner Tarsney Road was deemed moot after one of the landowners requested his request be canceled. 
     The Board approved the second reading of an ordinance approving the 2023 budget and fee schedule and approved a resolution to sign a contract with McCown Gordon Construction, LLC for construction management services for the new police station.
     City Administrator Ken Murphy reported construction costs are estimated at $12.2 million and construction is scheduled to begin March 2023.
     In other business, the Board approved the second reading of an ordinance to grant an easement for the sewer main that will serve the Grain Valley branch of Mid-Continent Public Library (MCPL) being built on property sold to MCPL by the City. 
      City Attorney Joe Lauber reviewed just a few of the issues the City will need to consider now that recreational marijuana has been approved in Missouri. Among those is a recommendation that the Board consider adding a ballot question to the April 2023 municipal election to add a 3% sales tax on recreational marijuana sales.
     Election filing begins Tuesday, December 6th for the April 2023 municipal election. Candidates will be listed in order filed.
      Murphy updated the Board on the police chief search. Over 20 applications were received for the position. Candidates will be pared down to no more than six candidates to move forward for testing through five different exercises to ultimately identify 2-3 candidates for final review. 

     The City of Grain Valley's Holiday Festival will be held at 6:00pm on Thursday, December 1st at Armstrong Park. In addition to the lighting of the Mayor's Christmas tree, the Grain Valley 5th grade choir will entertain attendees. Free hot chocolate and other activities, including an outdoor showing of the movie Elf will also be featured, including a visit from Buddy the Elf. 

     Grain Valley senior Jackson Stewart has been selected as a Blue Springs Police Department Student Intern. Jackson and three other students from the CSI/Law Enforcement program at the CTC at Fort Osage will begin their paid internships in January after winter break.
     "I'm very proud of the students," CTC Director Susie Suits said. "And appreciative of our continued partnership with the Blue Springs Police Department. Their support in making this program grow and investing in our students means so much to our community."
     Interns will rotate through multiple divisions, including the detention center, patrol and 911 dispatch.
     "I'm interested in studying finance in college," Jackson said, "and possibly continuing on to become a lawyer or a financial advisor."
      The internship not only provides law enforcement students with industry experience, but also creates a pipeline for future employment. 
     "We've had several graduates continue on into part-time and full-time roles in dispatch, detention and patrol," CTC Assistant Director and former CSI instructor Cory DeVaul said. "We're helping students experience the industry before they graduate and helping our community partners find talent. It makes a difference for the students seeing the organizations that are interested in helping them and supporting them as they decide what they want to do."

by Rudi Keller, Missouri Independent

     For the first time in its history, the only real limit on what Missouri can buy on a cash-and-carry basis is the imagination of the people spending the money.
     The state treasury is bulging with more than $6 billion in surplus cash, the result of 28 months of double-digit revenue growth and federal payments tied to COVID-19 relief and recovery. If growth rates continue at current levels, general revenue in the current fiscal year could approach $15 billion.
     Three years ago, the general revenue fund took in $8.9 billion.
     Some foresee a slowdown starting next year, as inflation-fighting policies slow the economy and the state sees the actual impact of recent tax cuts. Lawmakers and Gov. Mike Parson’s administration are trying to account for those uncertainties as they negotiate the budget baseline for the coming legislative session, said Sen. Lincoln Hought, R-Springfield.
     “It is almost kind of a wait and see game,” said Hough, who is expected to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee next year.
     But the large surplus promises to smooth any downturn while also allowing for new spending initiatives. 
     The first priority should be state agencies at or near a crisis due to staff shortages and turnover, said state Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis.
     Merideth is the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee.
     The Independent has documented staff turnover in the Children’s Division at nearly 50%, with children in foster care missing visits with parents and rushed abuse investigations. There are hundreds of people waiting for beds in Department of Mental Health facilities due to a lack of staff.
     To maintain minimum staffing, the mental health department uses expensive contract professionals. To cover the cost, the department is asking for a $22 million supplemental appropriation through June 30.
     Those agencies need targeted spending to recruit staff, Merideth said. And state employees generally need a raise, he said.
     “I think we need a very large investment and an increase in investment in what our state workers are paid, especially those state workers that take care of our most vulnerable,” Merideth said.
     Last year, at the urging of Parson, lawmakers gave state employees the largest pay raise in decades, at least 5.5% for everyone on the state payroll, and approved a new base wage of $15 an hour for state jobs. 
     State agencies have submitted their budget requests for the coming fiscal year, and the next step in crafting the state budget is an estimate of revenues. Jim Moody, a lobbyist and former state budget director under Republican Gov. John Ashcroft, said he expects recession and tax cuts to start slowing state revenue in the second quarter of 2023.
     “It is hard for me to imagine that in that quarter, it is going to keep pace with last year,” Moody said.

Revenue buoyancy     From 2016 to 2019, state revenues grew at a steady, if unspectacular, rate. 
     Income tax and sales tax receipts mirrored inflation and grew about 6.5%. As profits increased, corporate income tax receipts rose at double the inflation rate.
     In the three years since, sales tax revenue has grown 50% faster than inflation, income tax receipts at double inflation and corporate income taxes at almost five times the inflation rate.
     Whether the current rush of revenue is high tide or a new base level will play out over the next couple of years.
    The top income tax rate will fall to 4.95% for 2023. Triggered steps in earlier cuts will reduce taxes on many businesses.
     Moody estimates the cumulative effect of those cuts will be to reduce revenue by about $680 million in 2023.
     By the time those cuts are taking hold, he said, the inflation-fighting interest rate hikes engineered by the Federal Reserve will be slowing economic growth.
     The economic slowdown, if one is coming, will be felt in the first half of next year, Moody predicted.
     “By April through June of next year,” he said, “you could have a confluence of things that turn things pretty quickly.”
     So far, the only noticeable impact of interest rate hikes on state government has been to increase the surplus. General revenue interest earnings, $50 million so far this fiscal year, are more than double the earnings for all of fiscal 2022.
     Tax receipts are rising faster than inflation through a combination of factors. Sales tax has been augmented by more revenue from internet retailers, while consumers are spending from savings and taking on large amounts of new debt.
     Income tax receipts reflect rising wages and investment gains. The state minimum wage, $11.15 an hour, is up 42% since 2018, or  $7,000 more a year for full-time work.
     When the state set $15 an hour as a floor for its employees, large private employers near state facilities in central Missouri responded by boosting their starting pay. 
     The Dollar General warehouse in Fulton, where the state operates a prison, a mental health hospital and the Missouri School for the Deaf, is now offering $20.50 an hour, up from $17 at the start of the year.
     The decline in revenue due to tax cuts is predictable. The impact of a recession is uncertain.
     In the mildest recession of the past 30 years, state revenues continued to grow. In the worst, starting in 2008, revenues declined for three consecutive years and took five more years to recover to pre-recession levels.
     When lawmakers met in special session to cut taxes, Hough negotiated higher thresholds for revenue growth to trigger future cuts.
     “We will see very quickly what kind of impact that really has,” Hough said. “The unknown is, where does this economy go?”
​
Spending demands

     This year’s $49 billion state budget, passed by lawmakers in May, is the state’s largest in history.
     While state budgets generally grow from year to year, two items totaling more than $5 billion were new. The largest, at $2.9 billion, was a one-time appropriation of federal COVID-19 recovery funds. 
     Much of the money will be used in local projects. Recipients for one big piece, $410 million in grants to improve local water systems, were announced Thursday.
     The second is the continuing expense for expanding Medicaid to cover lower-income adults from 18 to 64. The program budget was set at $2.5 billion this year, with no general revenue needed to cover the state’s 10% share.
     In the coming year, the Department of Social Services anticipates the cost of Medicaid expansion will increase by $373 million, again without needing general revenue for the state share.
     Public education gets the biggest portion of general revenue. Funding through the foundation formula, which is the main source of state support, has been stagnant for several years.
     But public schools got a boost they didn’t expect when lawmakers included $214 million to cover the full state obligation for student transportation. It was the first time since 1991 that the state had paid its full share.
     The one-time extra cash has helped but the state needs to address public education’s staffing challenge, said Melissa Randol, executive director of the Missouri School Boards Association.
     “We have a crisis in Missouri with our salaries impacting our teaching workforce,” Randol said. “We need more than just one-year commitments without the ability to sustain that long-term.”
    Missouri ranks 47th in average teacher pay and second-to-last in the nation in starting salaries at $33,234. 
     Lawmakers also funded a program proposed by Parson to help districts boost minimum teacher pay to $38,000 and resumed state funding for the Career Ladder program, which helps districts pay more for teachers with advanced education.
     In its budget request for next year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking funds to implement some recommendations of the Teacher Recruitment and Retention Blue Ribbon Commission.
     The commission recommended changing state law to set the minimum at $38,000 a year, estimating the cost at $29.5 million per year. Increasing the average teacher pay by $1,000, the commission estimated, would cost $81 million. 
     In its budget request for 2023, the department asked for the minimum pay funding but not the money to raise average salaries.
     The biggest new item in the education budget is $77 million for increasing foundation formula payments to charter schools under a law passed this year. The department has also asked for $233 million to continue fully funding transportation, up $19 million, and $31.8 million to expand the Career Ladder program.
     Hough and Merideth said they expect bipartisan support for continuing full transportation funding and for the requests stemming from the task force report.
     But Merideth said he’s skeptical how far lawmakers will go to put money into education or other needs.
     “I am not going to take for granted we have a huge surplus until we are doing the things our state needs to do,” Merideth said.
    And Randol said she’s waiting to see the money in a spending bill.
     “My grandfather said, ‘don’t tell me what your priorities are, show me your checkbook and I will know what your priorities are.’”
For the first time in its history, the only real limit on what Missouri can buy on a cash-and-carry basis is the imagination of the people spending the money.
The state treasury is bulging with more than $6 billion in surplus cash, the result of 28 months of double-digit revenue growth and federal payments tied to COVID-19 relief and recovery. If growth rates continue at current levels, general revenue in the current fiscal year could approach $15 billion.
Three years ago, the general revenue fund took in $8.9 billion.
Some foresee a slowdown starting next year, as inflation-fighting policies slow the economy and the state sees the actual impact of recent tax cuts. Lawmakers and Gov. Mike Parson’s administration are trying to account for those uncertainties as they negotiate the budget baseline for the coming legislative session, said Sen. Lincoln Hought, R-Springfield.
“It is almost kind of a wait and see game,” said Hough, who is expected to chair the Senate Appropriations Committee next year.
But the large surplus promises to smooth any downturn while also allowing for new spending initiatives. 
The first priority should be state agencies at or near a crisis due to staff shortages and turnover, said state Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis.
Merideth is the ranking Democrat on the House Budget Committee.
The Independent has documented staff turnover in the Children’s Division at nearly 50%, with children in foster care missing visits with parents and rushed abuse investigations. There are hundreds of people waiting for beds in Department of Mental Health facilities due to a lack of staff.
To maintain minimum staffing, the mental health department uses expensive contract professionals. To cover the cost, the department is asking for a $22 million supplemental appropriation through June 30.
Those agencies need targeted spending to recruit staff, Merideth said. And state employees generally need a raise, he said.
“I think we need a very large investment and an increase in investment in what our state workers are paid, especially those state workers that take care of our most vulnerable,” Merideth said.
Last year, at the urging of Parson, lawmakers gave state employees the largest pay raise in decades, at least 5.5% for everyone on the state payroll, and approved a new base wage of $15 an hour for state jobs. 
State agencies have submitted their budget requests for the coming fiscal year, and the next step in crafting the state budget is an estimate of revenues. Jim Moody, a lobbyist and former state budget director under Republican Gov. John Ashcroft, said he expects recession and tax cuts to start slowing state revenue in the second quarter of 2023.
“It is hard for me to imagine that in that quarter, it is going to keep pace with last year,” Moody said.

Revenue buoyancy

by Marcia Napier, Grain Valley Historical Society
 
     Did your family enjoy turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner? Roasted of Fried? Growing up, turkey was synonymous with Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m told some families enjoyed ham at Christmas. For me, well, I loved ring bologna, and being the spoiled child that I admit I was, it could usually be found among the foods on our table.  Fortunately, I “grew up” and learned to eat turkey, although I still prefer the dark meat!
     Did you know that no 17th-century reference to Thanksgiving exists beyond a letter written by Plymouth colonist Edward Winslow?  The tradition is rooted in European harvest festivals and Christian religious observances when “days of thanksgiving” were fairly common among the colonists of New England. If fact, colonial American communities routinely held unofficial Thanksgiving celebrations, and few people associated them with the Plymouth settlers.
     Likewise, while turkeys may have been served in Plymouth, most historians think it was probably duck or geese which they ate along with the deer provided by the Wampanoag Indian tribe. So why is turkey our Thanksgiving fowl? Some credit Bradford’s stories of the early colonists hunting wild turkeys. Some credit Ben Franklin who wanted to make the turkey our national bird, rather than the Bald Eagle. Still others give credit to President Abraham Lincoln. On Oct. 3, 1863, he issued a proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving.
     According to the internet (the authority!), by the turn of the 19th century, turkey had become a popular dish to serve on such occasions. There were a few reasons for this. First the bird was rather plentiful. One expert estimated that there were at least 10 million turkeys in America at the time of European contact. Second, turkeys on a family farm were almost always available for slaughter. Cows provided milk and chickens provided eggs, but turkeys, they were expendable. Third, a single turkey was usually big enough to feed a family. From a more practical perspective, turkey has also remained relatively affordable.
     While turkeys were roasted for years, future food historians will no doubt talk about the early 2000s as the beginning of fried turkeys! While I would not think of telling you how to cook your turkey, I will share an old recipe and a great use for your leftover turkey!
 
Turkey Tetrazzini
 
3 cups Spaghetti                                 2 cups of broth (chicken or turkey)
½ cup chopped mushrooms                Salt & Pepper to taste
½ cup chopped celery                         3 cups of cooked chopped turkey
½ cup chopped green pepper              1 cup of cream (can substitute 1 can
½ cup chopped onion                                      Mushroom soup)
½ cup chopped pimiento                    2 cups grated Cheddar cheese
2 tbsp flour                                          3 tbsp butter
 
Saute the mushrooms, celery, green pepper, onion and pimiento. Boil the spaghetti, until tender, in salted water to which 1 tablespoon cooking oil has been added. Make a sauce of the butter, flour, broth and salt and pepper. Remove sauce from heat and add cream (or soup). Combine all ingredients with the turkey and cheese; spoon into baking dish. Optional: add crushed potato chip topping and brown in over at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. Serves 10-12.
 
Bon Appetit!

     The holiday season is in full swing and many of us are struggling to find some of those last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers. Do you have a foodie or kitchen enthusiast in your life for whom you need some gift ideas? What better way to show the foodie in your life how much you care this holiday season than by filling their stocking with the perfect foodie treats! Hy-Vee has some great treats and kitchen gadgets that will make any food-forward individual happy. Your Hy-Vee dietitians have put together a list of their top five items for the favorite foodie in your life.
 
Dietitian Top 5 Stocking Stuffers Fit for a Foodie:

1. Oxo SW Digital Instant Read Thermometer: Every kitchen can benefit from an instant-read thermometer. It is great for checking the cooking temperature of meat, as well as oils, water and even candy or chocolate.
2. Good Cook Salad Spinner: A salad spinner doesn’t need to be used for leafy greens only; it works great to rinse and dry many different produce options. One of our favorite uses for a spinner? To rinse and dry homemade and fresh shredded hashbrowns. After shredding your fresh potatoes, soak them in some salt water, then rinse well and spin to dry.
3. Stonewall Kitchen Lemon Herb Aioli: A great aioli can be a very versatile condiment, and the lemon and herb combination in this one from Stonewall Kitchen will add some brightness to your favorite savory dishes.
4. Farberware 3 Piece Bamboo Cutting Board Set: The bamboo boards in this set are sturdy and great for chopping up your produce. However, they are also beautiful and make great serving boards as well. Use them to create a fun charcuterie display for your next party.
5. Stonewall Kitchen Spicy Chili Bacon Jam: Bacon is always a popular ingredient and flavor, and it is no different in this great spicy jam by Stonewall Kitchen. It can be used to top off your favorite protein. Plus, the glass jar and interesting shape make a classy stocking stuffer.

 
     Sometimes the holiday season can be stressful, but Hy-Vee dietitians are here to help you with these fun gift ideas and nutrition support. You can kick-start your New Year’s resolutions early by scheduling a free Discovery Session with your local dietitian. During this session you will discuss your goals and what nutrition programing will best help you reach them. You can also sign up for our NEW, FREE vitamin D screenings after a long winter season.
​     Need a good jump-start in creating a healthy lifestyle? Check out our BEGIN programs, available for individuals and families. No matter your nutrition or wellness needs, your Hy-Vee registered dietitians are here to support you all year round.
 
The information is not intended as medical advice. Please consult a medical professional for individual advice.

     The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer a free winter trout fishing clinic for youth from 8:00am to Noon on Saturday, Dec. 10, at the James A. Reed Memorial Wildlife Area in Lee’s Summit. This clinic is an opportunity for youths ages 7 to 15 to learn about rainbow trout and how to catch them. Trout are not native to Missouri, but MDC stocks trout during winter in several lakes in the Kansas City area to provide anglers a close-to-home fishing opportunity.
     The clinic will begin in the classroom at MDC’s Kansas City Regional Office at the Reed area. John Rittel, MDC community education assistant, will talk about trout and how to catch them. Rittel will also demonstrate how to clean trout to prepare them for cooking.
Participants will next move to Honker Pond on the area to try trout fishing with help from the instructor and volunteers. MDC will provide all equipment and bait. Only children can fish at Honker Pond, but parents and relatives are welcome to attend and learn along with the youths. All children must be accompanied by an adult. MDC will serve hot chocolate and have a campfire burning for warming up if the weather is cold.
     Children do not need a Missouri trout fishing permit if they do catch-and-release fishing only. But if they keep the trout they catch, they will need a trout permit. Permits will not be available at this event, but they can be purchased online at https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4Ni, or at any permit vendor.
     Registration is required. To register, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/4N5. COVID-19 safety precautions will be observed.
     For more information about winter trout fishing in Missouri, visit https://short.mdc.mo.gov/ZF3.